C-ring applying and removing tool



Nov. 4, 1952 B. M. CALDWELL 2,616,315

0 RING APPLYING AND REMOVING TOOL Filed uovbzs, 1947 IN V EN TOR. 56/7027 M. CALDWtZl Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE C-BING APPLYING AND REMOVING TOOL Berneth M. Caldwell, Emo, Ontario, Canada Application November 28, 1947, Serial No. 788,519

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in plier-type tools and more particularly to an improved tool for applying and removing C-rings.

There is a general demand among technicians and mechanics for a single tool capable of spreading, holding and securing small objects in confined spaces. For example, there is no presently available tool which is suitable for both spreading, removing and replacing and clamping socalled C-rings, of sizes ranging from to /8 inch as used in radios or the like, which is also useful for fine wire work such as that required on radio resistors and condensers.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved servicing tool, simple in design and adaptable to a plurality of dissimilar uses.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved spreading, holding and pincers tool of an elongated nature and extreme thinness which enables it to be used in radio work or the like where the component parts are closely spaced and usually of minimum size.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved servicing tool of extreme thinness and a plier-like character which is capable of exerting relatively large spreading and clamping forces.

Other objects and advantages and adaptations will be recognized from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the combination tool holding a C-ring, a portion being broken away and shown in cross-section to better illustrate the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is an edgewise elevation of the tool.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the tool in closed position.

Figure 4 is an illustration of the tool as it is adapted to be used for spreading a C-ring.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-section on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the improved tool, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a pair of pivotally connected levers generally indicated at ID, of generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and relatively thin in proportion to their width. These levers have mutually opposed straight edges I I which extend from the inner ends of the jaws I2 to the inner ends of the curved handles I3 and are in contact when the tool is in its open or spread position, as illustrated in Figure 1. One of the levers is apertured near the inner end of its jaw portion and the other is provided with a pair of spaced apart, apertured lugs I4 to receive a pivot pin I5 which operatively connects the two levers together. The inner edge surfaces of the two jaws I2 are substantially straight and diverge outwardly at substantially equal angles from the pivotal connection between the jaws to provide a V-shaped recess between the jaws l2 when the levers are brought together with the edges II in contact, as shown in Figure 1. This aperture will receive various sizes of open 0- rings, as indicated at I6, for compressing such rings into an annular groove in a, rod. The outer edges of the levers are also substantially straight from the curved handles I3 to the outer ends of jaws I2 and are substantially parallel when the levers are in the closed position shown in Figure 1, but converge slightly from the handles to the outer ends of the jaws.

The jaws I2 are also convergingly tapered on their opposite sides, as shown in Figure 2, so that their outer ends are sharply pointed. When the jaws are brought together by separating the handles I3, as shown in Figure 3, the jaw end of the tool provides a sharp point which may be forced between the ends of a compressed C-ring, as shown in Figure 4, after which the outer ends of the jaws are separated by compressing the handles l3 together so as to spread the jaws I2 to expand the C-ring so it may be removed from the groove in the rod II.

The handles are exteriorly and interiorly curved to provide a comfortable hand grip for the tool and a finger space IB between the handles so that they may be easily separated.

Each lever I0 is provided adjacent the pivot point between the two levers with an elongated recess I9 opening through the inner edge I I thereof. A U-shaped spring 20 is mounted in the recesses I9 with its bight portion adjacent the pivot point and the ends of its legs directed outwardly away from each other and engaged in notches 2| provided in the bottoms of the recesses at the inner ends thereof. This spring is operative to resiliently urge the handle ends of the levers apart so that the tool is normally :in the closed position illustrated in Figure 3 with. the handles separated and the jaw i2 together, providing a sharp point at the jaw end of the tool.

To illustrate a specific operation of the tool as herein described, reference is made to Figure 4 wherein the pointed ends of the tool, being together in their normal state as shown in Figure 3, are inserted between the ends of C-ring IE on shaft I'I preparatory to a spreading action by the exertion of a squeezing force on handles I3. For the replacement of a ring of this charvide sharp wife-cutting ease w edges having firststi ight ortionsexte acter on a shaft, the tool may be used to grasp the C-ring in the manner as shown in Figure 1, the jaw spreading force exerted by the spring 20 serving to hold the C-ring, and further spreading force being exerted manually on the handles l3 to squeeze the ends of the C-ring together to bind it on the shaft. In addition, if convenient or" suitable; the inner edges vH of handles I3 may be used to clamp a C-rin'g in place.

In utilizing this tool, for example, in wire Work, as soldering, bending, etc., it will bereadilyreeog nized that the advantages or thisstraight; thin pointed tool is in its capability otmanip ulating clamping, and retaining the work or piece to be worked in any desired position;

To facilitate the tools use, it is further pro; 7

vided with a wire cutter formation 22 as more learlrs qwn n F u e Th rma ion. P d by f he site s i iT- v i ldf a1 ee'sses approximately halifway th ou h) i of the levers at the inner en s of the re sses I9 with the bottoms of the holes of the r i e i ii j sesl meet when the levers are brought together the i i i f ii i .-t. e

Having 'thli described impiiqved E9191 it'tvill be obvious that the instrument ifsfcanable a great many other pnean; uses, [and that light changes may be ma e thereinwitho'ut departing from the scope ofrthe appended cl'air'n;

whatistcla eqisr I c-rnie in I is. arrot at xte nth-11y straight levers positionedin sidejbysiderelation, pivot means pivoting said levers together at a Point adjacent to but s aced .jliw'ardlv rdm end. of said levers;

wardly frorn said. pivot'rneansgsaid first strarg ed e po i b i a reneeldtqw e to 'l' qliing relation in the c losedrelationjoi the levers and to' be in inwardly iiivergent relation inthe spread positiono'f 'said levers jthe cpni ro'r'rting edges of the levers having second "straight por- .4 tions extending outwardly from said pivot means to the outer ends of the levers, said second straight portions diverging in an outward direction with respect to said first straight portions and constituting jaw faces, said jaw faces being arranged to be in touching relation in the spread position of the levers and to be separated in diverging relation in the closed position of the l. levers,.tonreceiv ,a c-rnig therebetwen preliminary to closing the levers for compressing the (g-ring, the outer edges of said levers extending outwardly fromsaid pivot means being outwardly-isapered to theouter ends of the levers to r l e1 :in e sharp points at the outer ends of the levers, said sharp points being positioned together pivot m ans, and a u si aped spring Having a Bight portion bearing against the enter ends of the ree esses and ivergent regs bearing against t e bottoms of the recesses and the innereiids or the recesses. I

BERNETH M. anrhitiiifiiiis eiini) ,rhe renewing references are or record in the file of this patent:

UNITEQfi'ITA'IES PATENTS 

